An Oakland educator has been honored nationally for his community schools work.

Curtiss Sarikey was awarded the Community School Initiative Leadership Award by the Coalition for Community Schools.

The coalition’s schools offer academics, health care and social services not only for students, but also their families and communities. The schools focus on the whole child to improve academics.

“Mr. Sarikey is an advocate for students, families and community voice in Oakland and beyond,” said Martin J. Blank, the coalition’s director.

Sarikey is Oakland Unified’s deputy chief for community schools and student services.

“Curtiss has been a phenomenal leader of our mission to build a full-service community school district that truly delivers on our vision that every student thrives,” Superintendent Antwan Wilson said in a statement.

Using public schools as hubs, community schools collaborate with organizations to provide their mix of academic, health and social services.

In Oakland, more than 30 schools have community school resource coordinators. There are 76 after-school program sites serving almost 8,000 students and 45 summer learning programs for more than 5,700 students. The coalition’s 16 school-based health centers serve thousands of students and their families.

“Dedicated employees like Curtiss, and the team he’s built, are essential to providing the social, emotional and educational supports needed to serve the whole child while building deep partnerships with families and community,” Wilson said.

The award was presented during a national conference April 6-8 in Albuquerque.